Sherman Oaks Auto Repair

How do I choose the right motor oil for my car? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by new motorists. Given the wide variety of motor oils available in the market today, settling on the right one for your car may be challenging. Let's help you make an informed decision when choosing the right oil by explaining the differences between different conventional and synthetic oils. Conventional Oil Commonly known as regular or mineral-based oil, conventional oil is a lubricant sourced and refined from crude oil. Synthetic Oil Synthetic oil is a human-made lubricant manufactured from synthetic base oils that have been chemically synthesized. In other words, synthetic oil is made from artificially synthesized chemical compounds, but the base material is derived from distilled crude oil. Is Synthetic Oil the Best Option for My Car? When compared to conventional oil, the answer to this question is a big YES! This is due ... read more

Tires are designed to be filled to specific air pressure in order to function properly. This air pressure helps to ensure that the tire is evenly making traction with the road and also helps to prevent premature wear and tear.  When it comes to your vehicle’s tires, taking care of them can save you both time and money in the long run. The better care you take of your tires, the less stress you’ll find yourself dealing with when something like a tire blowout occurs. Here are some of the risks of driving with tires that have low pressure:  Tire blowouts Uneven tire wear Tire cupping or bulging  Low tread  Decreased fuel efficiency Handling trouble With all of these risk factors, it becomes important to understand what the proper air pressure is for your specific vehicle’s tires and how to check it periodically.  The tire pressure that your vehicle requires will be located on the inside part of your car’s driver side door. You can ... read more

We are in the middle of the fall season, which means that the weather is getting colder, the rain will soon be falling, and the leaves are starting to change color. When the seasons change, it becomes critical to keep an eye on our vehicles and to make sure that we are getting any maintenance or services done so that we can drive safely in the changing environment. With wetter roads and colder temperatures comes new challenges for our vehicles, and there are certain ways that you can help guarantee safe travels wherever you go this fall.  The following maintenance items are important when it comes to getting your vehicle in tip-top shape for fall: Test Your Brakes Driving in wet conditions requires the best working brakes, so having your brake system tested now will help you stay safe through winter.  Replace Windshield Wipers & Wiper Fluid You never know when you'll have to deal with rain, and finding that your wipers don't ... read more

Your vehicle's shock absorbers are super important to the overall comfort and safety of your drive. Their job is to absorb shock from the road (hence their name) and dampen the force that you actually feel after driving over uneven surfaces or bumps. This also helps you keep better control of your vehicle when it comes to steering and braking.  As you can imagine, with a job mentioned above, the shocks are constantly working under a lot of pressure and force, which is why they do tend to wear down over time. When they are worn, they are significantly less effective and they can start to cause damage to other surrounding parts.  When you drive with worn shocks, you may notice that your ride is bumpier than usual. Besides the actual comfort of your drive, worn shocks can actually begin to damage connecting suspension components and wear down your tires unevenly and excessively. This is why it is important to have your shocks replaced as soon as you notice that they aren ... read more

When it comes to owning a Land Rover, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, Porsche, or other brands of modern vehicles, preventative maintenance is a key part of protecting your investment and maintaining the overall health of your vehicle. If your vehicle is kept in top condition, you will ensure that your vehicle is reliable and will save yourself money in the long run on repairs. At Sherman Oaks Exclusive in Sherman Oaks, CA, we are the experts when it comes to maintenance for Land Rover, luxury vehicles, Jeep, Porsche, European vehicles, and much more. Our ASE certified mechanics will help you stay on top of your vehicle’s recommended services. As fellow vehicle owners, we understand that keeping on track with recommended services can be difficult. At our Sherman Oaks car repair shop, we help you take control of your vehicle’s preventive maintenance. We help remind you of when any services are due and get you scheduled into our shop at a time that is convenient for you. Our goal is to ... read more

Your vehicle's wheels can be forced out of alignment due to daily occurrences on the road. It can happen due to uneven roads, debris, hitting curbs, speed bumps, potholes, and more. You may not notice it right away, but even the slightest misalignment of your vehicle's wheels can start to affect other components.  When you drive your car with bad wheel alignment, the tires begin to become worn down, and typically it happens unevenly. Worn down tires can be dangerous to drive with and you'll end up needing a new set much sooner than you probably anticipated. This is why it is so important to take care of your wheel alignment as soon as you notice any symptoms that indicate your car is due.  The best way you can get ahead of tire wear and your car's needed wheel alignments is by having the alignment inspected every 6,000 miles or 6 months. Here at Sherman Oaks Exclusive, we can assist you with your vehicle's regular inspections and will give you our expert ... read more

Whether you're something who doesn't drive often or you have a car that you don't use as much as another, you may wonder if your vehicle sitting idle has any effect on its performance or maintenance. A typical vehicle owner may think that not using a car can extend its lifetime and help better maintain it - however, this is not the case! A rule of thumb to follow is to start your car at least once a week. This will help get the juice flowing and help prevent some of the issues that can occur with an idle vehicle. Think of your vehicle like your body - sure you want to rest, but you also want to get up and get exercise regularly to keep your joints moving and your blood flowing. Your vehicle needs the same exercise.  So, what actually happens to your vehicle as it sits idle?  The battery begins to lose its charge. When the battery loses its charge, you may find that you aren't even able to start your car.    Your tires can lose air pressure and b ... read more

We know that it can be an annoyance to get into your vehicle on a hot California day only to find that your air conditioning isn't blowing cold air. Air is coming out of the vents, but it feels lukewarm and never gets really cold, even on MAX. Not only are you stuck in a hot car for the remainder of your ride, but you're probably also wondering why your A/C isn't blowing cold air anymore. Let's take a look at some of the causes for this particular symptom. There are actually a few different causes for why a car's air conditioner would stop blowing cold air. The most common is that there is low or no refrigerant left in the A/C system. This is typically caused by a leak somewhere in the air conditioning system, which is not uncommon after certain periods of time. Things like the o-rings and seals can wear down with regular use of your vehicle and cause refrigerant to leak, in turn causing the system to run on low refrigerant.  Another potential cause for no co ... read more

You may have heard the term "brake fade" before, or have at least experienced it. A brake fade is when you experience a temporary loss or reduction in brake power. It can be a scary occurrence, and is definitely something you want to avoid as a driver.  When you apply pressure on the brake pedal, the brake system works together to slow down your car. If you experience a brake fade, you may have total brake failure. This often times leads to accidents and scary situations on the road. It is often temporary, but all it takes is a few seconds to not stop in time to hit another vehicle. This is why it is so important to take care of your vehicle's brakes and try to prevent this from happening.  What causes brake fade? Brake fade happens when the brake pads overheat. When they overheat, they aren't able to create friction with the rotors.  How can I avoid brake fade?  Stay on top of your vehicle's brake system maintenance such as having good bra ... read more